While it is not known to evolve to or from any other Pokémon, it has a second forme activated by giving Giratina a Griseous Orb to hold. Its original forme, Altered Forme, will then become Origin Forme.

Giratina's Origin Forme was officially revealed in early February 2008.

Biology

Giratina is a large gray draconic Pokémon with gold half rings circling the back of its neck. A thick black stripe runs vertically along the front with red horizontal stripes. In its Altered Forme, it has two large black ghostly wings with red tips that can resemble claws. These wings can change shape as if it's a liquid or gas. Its six legs are thick and clawed.

In its Origin Forme, it takes on a serpentine look, with six black ghostly streamers on its back with red spikes at the tips. Its legs are reduced to spikes, and four additional golden spikes appear near the edge of its tail. While in Origin Forme, the three gold half-rings can grip objects. It can only be in its Origin Forme when in its home, the Reverse World, or when holding a Griseous Orb.

Giratina is able to travel through and control dimensions besides those of time and space. When in its Origin Forme, it is able to pass through dimensions at will, however, it will turn back to its Altered Forme due to the gravity change from the Reverse World. It does so by emitting a whirlwind from its mouth which creates a portal. It also seems to have a connection to reflective objects, such as mirrors and pools of water. Reflections embody the concept of the Reverse World. Giratina is a highly aggressive and territorial Pokémon protective of its home. Legends claim that Giratina appears in cemeteries and that it supposedly lives in a world on the reverse side. It was said to be banished for violence. Giratina is the only known Pokémon that can learn Shadow Force.

In the anime

Origin Forme Giratina in the anime

Major appearances

Giratina made its debut in Giratina and the Sky Warrior. In the movie, Giratina ambushes and drags Dialga into the Reverse World in order to exact revenge against the Temporal Pokémon for causing damage to its home during its fight with Palkiasome time before. Zero attempts to copy Giratina's powers in order to take control over the Reverse World. Throughout the movie, Giratina takes on its Origin Forme whenever it is in the Reverse World, and its Altered Forme whenever it is in the real world.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Giratina serves as the main antagonist in the Platinum chapter. It had been chasing Paka and Uji endlessly in the Distortion World until it had taken Dialga, Palkia and Cyrus hostage. It then landed in the Pokémon world location of Eterna City and caused a rampage. Giratina concluded the rampage by targeting Pearl with its signature Shadow Force, although Diamond took the hit for him. Reg responded to its Trainer's loss by helping Rotom change between its Formes to attack Giratina. Giratina was forced to retreat, and Charon followed it into the Distortion World. Upon arrival, Giratina was challenged by Volkner and Flint, but quickly ended the resistance of their Electivire and Magmortar.

Eventually, Giratina fought Dialga, Palkia and Reg all at once inside the Distortion World. After Charon's flying craft was destroyed, he decided to retreat by commanding Giratina to fly him out of the Distortion World. However, Charon and Giratina were impeded by a Draco Meteor from Cynthia's Garchomp as soon as they arrived back in the Pokémon world. After Charon's arrest by Looker, Giratina rose again and tried to ambush Platinum but Volkner's Electivire and Flint's Magmortar finished it off. Giratina was forced to return to the Distortion World on Dialga and Palkia's command.

In the TCG

Other appearances

Giratina appears as a Poké Ball summon in the 3DS version of the game. It will use Dragon Breath to cause a whirlwind. It also causes damage on contact.

Trophy information

NA: This Ghost/Dragon-type Pokémon is a resident of the Distortion World. When it is given a Griseous Orb, it'll change into its Origin Forme. Its Dragon Breath attack can catch fighters in a powerful, damaging tornado. If you're on the receiving end, be careful it doesn't carry you right off the stage

PAL: Also called the Renegade Pokémon, Giratina lives in a dimension known as the Distortion World. It has two forms, and will only be seen in its Origin Forme in out world if it's holding a Griseous Orb. Its Dragon Breath attack creates a powerful tornado that not only damages you, but can carry you off the stage!

It is met at level 70 in Diamond and Pearl while the other members are met at level 47. This is reversed in Platinum (although Giratina can still be met at level 70 in Turnback Cave if it is not caught in the Distortion World).

It is separated from the other members of its group in the Pokédex by Heatran and Regigigas.

Origin

Giratina may be based on Seta, a giant centipede, from the Japanese fairytale, "My Lord Bag of Rice", which was said to prey on dragon hatchlings and be as large as a mountain. Giratina is also possibly based on a basilisk.

In its Altered Forme, Giratina's wings may be based on a bat's, and its body has an insect-like, six-legged feature, but its posture is similar to a sauropod.

Its Origin Forme has a body similar to a serpent, while the six protrusions on its body may be based on a scorpion's stinger or spider legs. This Forme also shares physical traits with the Amphiptere, a European dragon-like creature with wings but no legs.

In interviews Junichi Masuda and Takeshi Kawachimaru did during Generation IV, they said that Giratina and the Distortion World were created to be personifications of antimatter.[citation needed] In HeartGold and SoulSilver, Cynthia also states this.

Name origin

Giratina may be a combination of girasol (a type of red opal), guillotine, or girare (Italian for to wander around); and プラチナ purachina (Japanese for platinum).

In other languages

Language

Title

Meaning

Japanese

ギラティナ Giratina

From a combination of girasol, girare, or guillotine, and プラチナ purachina